Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Lithonia, Georgia
A $172,000 home here costs
$1,580per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $67,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $938. The real number is $642 higher every month, 68% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare DeKalb County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Lithonia from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,614 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The DeKalb County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Lithonia against DeKalb County and Georgia
| Measure | Lithonia | DeKalb County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $171,500 | $331,400 |
| Median property tax | $2,217 | $3,046 |
| Effective tax rate | 1.293% | 0.919% |
| Median gross rent | $1,282 | $1,591 |
| Population | 2,614 | 762,105 |
The weather behind that power bill
Lithonia sits in DeKalb County, which averages a high of 89.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 32.7°F in its coldest, with 51.43" of precipitation a year and 27% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 1,728 cooling and 2,980 heating degree days, which is what sets the $171 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for DeKalb County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in DeKalb County
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Lithonia averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Lithonia every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
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Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Lithonia?
A $172,000 home in Lithonia, Georgia costs approximately $1,580 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $938 principal and interest, $185 property tax, $75 homeowners insurance, $239 utilities and $143 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Lithonia?
Lithonia has an effective property tax rate of 1.293%, based on a median home value of $171,500 and median real estate taxes of $2,217. That is higher than the DeKalb County average of 0.919%.
What is the average home price in Lithonia?
The median owner-occupied home value in Lithonia, Georgia is $171,500, against $331,400 across DeKalb County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Lithonia?
Median gross rent in Lithonia is $1,282 a month, against $1,580 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.
What salary do you need to buy a home in Lithonia?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Lithonia, Georgia at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $67,500 a year. That covers the full $1,580 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Lithonia, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
- Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Georgia.
- Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
- Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
- Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.